Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Daily Graphic journalist beaten by Asamoah Gyan's brother sacked

The Ashanti Regional Editor of the state-owned Daily Graphic, Daniel Kenu, has been sacked.

The dismissal is in connection with Mr. Kenu's withdrawal of an assault case involving brother of Black Stars' captain, Asamoah Gyan.

Baffour Gyan was arrested together with another for assaulting the Graphic editor who asked Asamoah Gyan a question they considered offensive at a press conference in Kumasi.

The assault received condemnation from media associations, the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group, Kenneth Ashigbey, and civil society organisations.

But on the second day of hearing, the victim submitted a letter to the court expressing his desire to discontinue with the case.

He cited health and family for his decision.

Many groups including the Ghana Journalists Association expressed disappointment at the decision.

"We refer to the disciplinary hearing set up by management to review your conduct for unilaterally withdrawing the assault case against you from the Kumasi Circuit Court.

"Management has noted, after considering the reports of the investigation committee, including its findings and recommendations, that you acted disloyally by unilaterally withdrawing the case from the court, more especially when the incident occurred in the course of your official duty and Management had written to you and assured you of its support and had specifically instructed you to consult it on any move you wanted to take regarding the case," the dismissal letter stated